Shamong man charged in death of Cinnaminson toddler

MOUNT HOLLY — A Shamong man was charged in the death of a Cinnaminson one-year-old.

On Wednesday, the Burlington County Prosecutor and Cinnaminson Director of Public Safety Michael P. King said that Steven Donaldson, 29, of Shamong was charged in connection with the Feb. 12 death of Claudia Nunes, who had turned 1 the day prior.

According to the prosecutor’s office, an investigation revealed that Donaldson was caring for the toddler at his girlfriend’s Cinnaminson home while she was at work. Donaldson placed a call to 9-1-1 just before 8 p.m. and said that the toddler was not breathing. Law enforcement and emergency medical personnel were unable to revive Nunes. The 1-year-old was taken to Kennedy University Hospital in Cherry Hill where she was later pronounced dead.

The Burlington County Medical Examiner determined through an autopsy that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

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Donaldson surrendered on Tuesday at the Burlington County Prosecutor’s office. Donaldson’s bail was set at $250,000 with no 10 percent option. He was released after posting bail.

The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Cinnaminson Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.